Global climate change: impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in Wuhan, China
Abstract Background There was no consistent definition for heat wave worldwide, while a limited number of studies have compared the mortality effect of heat wave as defined differently. This paper aimed to provide epidemiological evidence for policy makers to determine the most appropriate definitio...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-04-01
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Series: | Global Health Research and Policy |
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Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-017-0030-2 |
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author | Yunquan Zhang Renjie Feng Ran Wu Peirong Zhong Xiaodong Tan Kai Wu Lu Ma |
author_facet | Yunquan Zhang Renjie Feng Ran Wu Peirong Zhong Xiaodong Tan Kai Wu Lu Ma |
author_sort | Yunquan Zhang |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Background There was no consistent definition for heat wave worldwide, while a limited number of studies have compared the mortality effect of heat wave as defined differently. This paper aimed to provide epidemiological evidence for policy makers to determine the most appropriate definition for local heat wave warning systems. Methods We developed 45 heat wave definitions (HWs) combining temperature indicators and temperature thresholds with durations. We then assessed the impact of heat waves under various definitions on non-accidental mortality in hot season (May–September) in Wuhan, China during 2003–2010. Results Heat waves defined by HW14 (daily mean temperature ≥ 99.0th percentile and duration ≥ 3 days) had the best predictive ability in assessing the mortality effects of heat wave with the relative risk of 1.63 (95% CI: 1.43, 1.89) for total mortality. The group-specific mortality risk using official heat wave definition of Chinese Meteorological Administration was much smaller than that using HW14. We also found that women, and the elderly (age ≥ 65) were more susceptible to heat wave effects which were stronger and longer lasting. Conclusion These findings suggest that region specific heat wave definitions are crucial and necessary for developing efficient local heat warning systems and for providing evidence for policy makers to protect the vulnerable population. |
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id | doaj.art-8872b536f7b142f4be95b9fd960b0a96 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2397-0642 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-11T13:52:34Z |
publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
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series | Global Health Research and Policy |
spelling | doaj.art-8872b536f7b142f4be95b9fd960b0a962022-12-22T01:04:13ZengBMCGlobal Health Research and Policy2397-06422017-04-01211910.1186/s41256-017-0030-2Global climate change: impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in Wuhan, ChinaYunquan Zhang0Renjie Feng1Ran Wu2Peirong Zhong3Xiaodong Tan4Kai Wu5Lu Ma6Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan UniversityDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan UniversityJiang’an District Center for Disease Control and PreventionDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan UniversityAbstract Background There was no consistent definition for heat wave worldwide, while a limited number of studies have compared the mortality effect of heat wave as defined differently. This paper aimed to provide epidemiological evidence for policy makers to determine the most appropriate definition for local heat wave warning systems. Methods We developed 45 heat wave definitions (HWs) combining temperature indicators and temperature thresholds with durations. We then assessed the impact of heat waves under various definitions on non-accidental mortality in hot season (May–September) in Wuhan, China during 2003–2010. Results Heat waves defined by HW14 (daily mean temperature ≥ 99.0th percentile and duration ≥ 3 days) had the best predictive ability in assessing the mortality effects of heat wave with the relative risk of 1.63 (95% CI: 1.43, 1.89) for total mortality. The group-specific mortality risk using official heat wave definition of Chinese Meteorological Administration was much smaller than that using HW14. We also found that women, and the elderly (age ≥ 65) were more susceptible to heat wave effects which were stronger and longer lasting. Conclusion These findings suggest that region specific heat wave definitions are crucial and necessary for developing efficient local heat warning systems and for providing evidence for policy makers to protect the vulnerable population.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-017-0030-2Climate changeTemperatureHeat waveDefinitionMortalityChina |
spellingShingle | Yunquan Zhang Renjie Feng Ran Wu Peirong Zhong Xiaodong Tan Kai Wu Lu Ma Global climate change: impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in Wuhan, China Global Health Research and Policy Climate change Temperature Heat wave Definition Mortality China |
title | Global climate change: impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in Wuhan, China |
title_full | Global climate change: impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in Wuhan, China |
title_fullStr | Global climate change: impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in Wuhan, China |
title_full_unstemmed | Global climate change: impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in Wuhan, China |
title_short | Global climate change: impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in Wuhan, China |
title_sort | global climate change impact of heat waves under different definitions on daily mortality in wuhan china |
topic | Climate change Temperature Heat wave Definition Mortality China |
url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-017-0030-2 |
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